Chelsea are reportedly ready to break the club’s transfer record to beat Barcelona in signing Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez.
The Spanish publication Sport claimed Martinez has long been under Barcelona radar but said Chelsea are ready to pay the 22-year-old’s £100 million release clause which is only valid from July 1 to July 15.
On the other hand, Barcelona are reportedly reluctant to pay such a big figure outright. Barcelona have reportedly tried to offer Arturo Vidal in bids to lower the asking price.
The Sun claimed Chelsea will try to use Inter manager Antonio Conte’s interest in Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri to sweeten the potential deal.
Manchester City is also said to be interested in bringing the Argentine to Etihad.
Martinez has been one of the top performers in Serie A this season with 16 goals from 26 starts in all competition for Inter Milan.
With Oliver Giroud’s contract at Chelsea entering its final months and uncertainty surrounding Michy Batshuayi’s future at Stamford Bridge, it is understandable that Chelsea are looking for a new striker to provide competition for Tammy Abraham.
The Express also suggested Chelsea are monitoring Olympique Lyon’s Moussa Dembele and RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner for potential options for striker position.